See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy NOOR QURASHI, NEWS REPORTER Published: 11:48 BST, 12 July 2026 | Updated: 12:08 BST, 12 July 2026
Police have revealed a 28-year-old man taken into custody over the alleged murder of former minister Ann Widdecombe was from Rotherham.Speaking at a press conference today, detectives confirmed the attack was 'not politically motivated' - but added counter-terrorism officers had been involved in a raid.The former MP and MEP was found dead by her gardener at her cottage in Haytor, Devon on Thursday morning.Officers detained the white British man on Saturday and he remains in custody.Detectives said earlier the case is 'moving at significant pace' and 'our priority remains identifying those responsible' for Ms Widdecombe's death.Offiers at Devon and Cornwall Police had initially arrested a 26-year-old man - but he was released yesterday morning and is said to no longer form part of the investigation.Speaking this morning, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said there was no information to suggest the incident was terror-related but officers remain 'open-minded' about the motive.He added that police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the alleged murder. Ms Widdecombe appeared on Talk TV on Wednesday just days before her deathAnn Widdecombe was found dead in the kitchen of her remote bungalow in Dartmoor yesterdayThis is despite reports earlier today the force had been hunting the driver of a 'suspicious car' seen near Ms Widdecombe's home in Haytor.A manager of a garage in Haytor said he had alerted the force after his colleague noticed 'something out of the ordinary' at around 9am on Wednesday, with a dark VW Gold Mk4 reportedly parked in a 'strange place'.He said: '[The Golf] was at the top of the lane near Ann's place. If it was a local they would have parked in the car park or one of the lay–bys.'He was doing up his walking boots. He was in his late 20s, maybe early 30s. He was wearing shorts and a T–shirt. I remember thinking "Why is he parked there?'" He was halfway out the lay–by.'It didn't look like he fitted in. You don't see many late 20s, early 30s men around here. He was heading up in that direction [of Ann's house].'Police asked the garage to provide CCTV of the vehicle but they did not have any, it is understood. A researcher on the Channel 5 show had spoken to Ms Widdecombe on the phone earlier in the afternoon to set up the interview.After the call, the researcher exchanged messages with Ms Widdecombe, with her last message received at 12.19pm. The researcher then messaged again at 12.48pm requesting that Ms Widdecombe join the Zoom link in preparation for the remote interview, but she did not reply.Subsequent voice calls and messages asking if everything was alright went unanswered. Concerns were raised by the show's research team about the uncharacteristic lack of response from Ms Widdecombe, who was a regular on the show.They contacted her agent later on Wednesday and followed up again on Thursday.This is a breaking news story. More to follow
